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Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

Report: Packers have Favre’s phone records
July 22nd, 2008 – 2:05 PM by Judd Zulgad
As we await the NFL’s decision on the tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with Brett Favre, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

Bevell served as Favre’s quarterbacks coach in Green Bay from 2003-05 and the two have remained close. That relationship made it difficult to believe the Packers could prove much by simply pointing to conversations between Bevell and Favre. However, if Favre’s phone records also point to conversations with Childress that could be a different story.

The Vikings have remained mostly quiet on this subject since news broke nearly a week ago that tampering charges had been filed. Minnesota issued a statement last Thursday, saying the Vikings “are not commenting on this issue. These types of matters are handled by the league.”

The Vikings, if found guilty, could face penalties that include loss of draft picks and/or fines.

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

But the Packers don't need a QB. They've made it pretty clear that Rogers is their guy. If they wouldn't let Favre play ahead of him why would they want Pennington? I think that if they are trading Favre they would make sure that the package includes protection or targets for Rogers.

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

But the Packers don't need a QB. They've made it pretty clear that Rogers is their guy. If they wouldn't let Favre play ahead of him why would they want Pennington? I think that if they are trading Favre they would make sure that the package includes protection or targets for Rogers.

I just wanted to rid the Jets of Pennington, and I figured that the Packers could use a BU QB. I would hope that if Farve was offered that New York did whatever it took to get him.

PACER FAN ON STRIKE!!!-The moment the Pacers fire Larry Bird I will cheer for them again.

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

Does it matter who did the calling? If it's Favre calling them each time it looks like it gives them some wiggle room. Even without lying about what was in the conversations, is it tampering if Favre calls them and is simply updating them on his negotiations with the Packers?

-Bball

Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

------

"A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

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As Favre ponders his future, BRIO is prepared to offer the superstar a contract for the true story of a football legend

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brett Favre is one of professional football's most winning quarterbacks. He has been honored as MVP three times, had 10 postseason appearances, six division wins, two Super Bowl appearances, and won a world championship in Super Bowl XXXI.

“Brett Favre deserves to tell his side of the story,” said Green Bay Packer shareholder and BRIO owner John Marino. “After 16 years of tremendous service to the state of Wisconsin, Favre is a fan favorite and we are offering him an opportunity to share with his fans his side of the story about what is happening with the Packer administration.”

Favre retired in March of this year but there is much speculation that he is set to return to football. According to the July 23 edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Minnesota Vikings may be Favre’s top choice for a team because they use a version of West Coast offense style that Favre favors. However, the newspaper reports the Packers have no intention of giving Favre a release.

“I want the truth to come out,” said Marino. “Favre is an icon, a living legend, and deserves respect from the Packer administration, his team, the fans, and the state of Wisconsin.”

This is a story with many twists and turns. We all want the answer to the question dominating the sports page. Is Brett Favre coming back to professional football?

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Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

The more and more I hear about Brett Favre, obviously, the more tarnished his legacy as a player is, at least from the Green Bay point of view. I hate to say it, but I'm starting to lose respect for him and I hate to have to say that about such a a great character guy and a legend. But damn.

It is an interesting story for the summer though.

But like many I'm starting to grow very tired of it, and hell, some people started getting tired of his **** as early as 2-3 years ago, when he'd make hints of a possible retirement but never really say for sure and keep everyone guessing about his plans.

Hasn't he done this the past 2-3 seasons with obviously, this season being the worst.

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

Updated: July 24, 2008, 10:19 AM EST 159 comments add this RSS blog email print If Brett Favre was in fact talking to the Minnesota Vikings, it wasn't on a phone belonging to the Green Bay Packers, according to a report Thursday.

A story in the Green Bay Press-Gazette refutes reports from earlier in the week related to allegations of tampering by the Vikings in pursuit of the disgruntled Packers quarterback.

Citing sources from the NFL and an unnamed person close to Favre, the paper reported the retired-for-now future Hall of Famer does not have a cell phone issued by the Packers. Such an arrangement could have had salary-cap implications that might have drawn league penalties against the club if the arrangement was not spelled out in his contract.

"One-hundred percent, without a doubt, no Packers-issued phone," the source close to Favre told the paper.

In filing tampering charges against the Vikings, the Packers reportedly cited conversations between Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Favre before the QB's request for his release July 11 and also conversations between Favre and Vikings head coach Brad Childress. Several reports said the Packers' evidence consists of records they have from a phone the team gave Favre.

However, the two sources said Favre's phone isn't paid for by the team. Thus, the Packers shouldn't have access to any of Favre's phone records and will have to rely on the NFL to review the Vikings' phone records in its investigation of the tampering charges.

The Star-Tribune in Minneapolis reported that NFL staffers were at the Vikings' headquarters on Tuesday to investigate the tampering charges.

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

The more and more I hear about Brett Favre, obviously, the more tarnished his legacy as a player is, at least from the Green Bay point of view. I hate to say it, but I'm starting to lose respect for him and I hate to have to say that about such a a great character guy and a legend. But damn.

It is an interesting story for the summer though.

But like many I'm starting to grow very tired of it, and hell, some people started getting tired of his **** as early as 2-3 years ago, when he'd make hints of a possible retirement but never really say for sure and keep everyone guessing about his plans.

Hasn't he done this the past 2-3 seasons with obviously, this season being the worst.

I never considered Favre a great character guy, but I did have a lot of respect for him mainly because of his individuality in playing style and his passion for the game. There is no way the Pack should let Favre join the Vikings. They are 1 QB and maybe a WR away from being one of the best teams in the NFC. With the addition of Jared Allen to an already elite defense along with a powerful rushing attack, the Vikes will make noise no matter what...but if they manage to add Favre then I think they are favorites to win the NFC.

Re: Report: Packers have Favre's phone records

The New York Jets have received permission to talk to retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Friday.

Also Friday, a Packers source told Mortensen that Favre informed Packers general manager Ted Thompson by phone on Thursday that he was planning to report to the team's training camp this weekend.

The Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have expressed interest in Favre, according to a Packers source.

Favre, who retired in April, hasn't made a decision on whether to send in his reinstatement letter but would need to do so in order to report to camp.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio in an e-mail: "Favre was put on the reserve/retired list. A player who is put on that list has to file paperwork or make it known to the league that he is retired. That's what #4 did by virtue of his very public retirement press conference months ago.

"To get off that list, a player must file paperwork to be considered for reinstatement."

Favre has asked to be released from his contract and is aware of the Jets' and Bucs' interest, the source said. The Packers have no intention of releasing Favre from his contract, which expires after the 2010 season.

At training camp on Friday, Jets coach Eric Mangini did not deny that the Jets have been given permission to talk to Favre.

"With all discussions, those things are internal and that really hasn't changed," Mangini said, adding that he and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum talk every night about "a lot of different things" but always keep them internal.

Mangini reiterated that he was happy with the team's top quarterbacks, Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens.

"I feel the same way as I felt yesterday and nothing's changed," Mangini said. "With any conversations me and Mike have, Mike likes to talk about a lot of different scenarios and he enjoys a good chart, he enjoys a good graph and he enjoys a lot of scenarios. That's what he does, and that's what he's supposed to do.

"So, just normal discussions that we always have."

Pennington, meanwhile, said Friday that Tannenbaum told him the team has talked to the Packers about Favre. It didn't sound as though Tannenbaum assured Pennington that the Jets aren't interested.

"Bottom line, an organization has to take a look at every player available in this league. Period," Pennington said. "A general manager and a head coach is going to do everything they can do to make their team as good as they can make it. That's their job."

Tannenbaum would not confirm conversations with the Packers.

Pennington, who already is competing with Clemens for the starting job in Jets camp, said he wasn't overreacting to the Jets' potential trade for Favre.

"My whole focus is on this camp," Pennington said. "Winning this starting quarterback battle, so I don't really have any thoughts. It's part of the business: speculation, calls, one organization calling another about players. There's nothing to be said. As a player, you never react until it's actually done."

A league source familiar with the Packers told ESPN's Michael Smith that the Packers are asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Favre in conversations with potential trade partners. The same source added that no team is likely to meet that asking price.

The Packers made phone calls Tuesday to several teams after being encouraged by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to resolve the controversy surrounding Favre before camp opens, according to league and players' union sources.

NFC North blog

ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert writes about all things NFC North in his division blog.

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Green Bay, which has committed to Aaron Rodgers as its quarterback of the future, wants to keep Favre away from its NFC North rivals -- especially the Minnesota Vikings.

Goodell has been briefed by Thompson on the status of the team's approach with Favre. Goodell has encouraged the Packers to accelerate that process by surveying teams around the league to determine if there is a trade partner, sources said.

Goodell also has spoken with Favre, the sources said, telling the veteran passer that he was willing to assist in the process, if necessary.

Several teams in the AFC and NFC confirmed they have been contacted by the Packers.

On Thursday, at the Packers' annual shareholders meeting, team president and CEO Mark Murphy hinted at the possibility of Favre playing for another team by conjuring the image of Joe Montana in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform.

"We want to have positive feelings about Brett and the Packers, and we want him to continue to be a part of the Packer family," Murphy said. "I think the way this is handled will be important in terms of how that plays out in the future. But I'm also cognizant of some of the things that have happened in the past with Joe Montana ending his career with the Chiefs, now you look back on it, most people might not remember that he played with the Chiefs. They remember he was a 49er."

Meanwhile, on the heels of a report that said Favre had used a team-issued phone to contact the Vikings, the player's agent confirmed a subsequent Green Bay Post-Gazette report that said the story was unfounded.

"I promise you the Green Bay Packers have never provided or paid for a cell phone for Brett Favre. That is completely erroneous," James "Bus" Cook told ESPN's Mortensen.

Information from ESPN reporters Chris Mortensen and Sal Paolantonio and The Associated Press was used in this report.

PACER FAN ON STRIKE!!!-The moment the Pacers fire Larry Bird I will cheer for them again.

In a late Saturday night interview at his Hattiesburg, Miss., home, Favre also told SI.com's Peter King that he had decided not to report to the Packers' training camp today with the rest of the team in an effort to resolve his situation.

On the tampering charge, Favre said he was interviewed by the NFL's vice president of security, Milt Ahlerich, this week and admitted that he talks to and text-messages Bevell, his former position coach in Green Bay, and Childress often, in addition to other NFL coaches.

"I have no qualms about admitting I talked to them," Favre said. "Talking with Milt, he said, 'Brett, did they entice you?' I said no, 'I don't need to be enticed anywhere.' They absolutely did not entice me to come to Minnesota."

Whether Favre's admission is enough for the NFL to find the Vikings guilty of tampering is uncertain.

Bevell and Childress have had no comment on the charges, which both have referred to as a league matter.

Childress is scheduled to address the media after today's practice, which will be held from 3-5 p.m.

With the Packers committed to Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback, Favre has asked to be released from his contract, while the team has countered by granting the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers permission to talk to him about a trade.

Favre told SI.com that he had planned on reporting for the start of training camp today but agreed to give Packers general manager Ted Thompson "a couple of days to try to get the situation resolved."

"I don't want to be a distraction to the Packers," Favre said, "and I hope in the next few days we can come to an agreement that would allow me to continue playing football."

Favre added: "I've also spoken with Commissioner (Roger) Goodell a couple of times this week, in hopes that he could be some sort of arbitrator in this. I hope he can be."